Coakley’s proposed ban on home liens by casinos draws mixed reaction in Taunton

Tuesday

Feb 11, 2014 at 7:25 PMFeb 11, 2014 at 8:04 PM

Charles Winokoor Taunton Gazette Staff Reporter @cwinokoor

TAUNTON — Local reaction to a letter from Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley — urging the state gaming commission to disallow casinos from eventually employing property liens against in-debt gamblers — has ranged from agreement to scorn.

In her letter, Coakley cited her concern about “lending practices” and “aggressive debt collection methods” employed by “several gaming operators.”

She made direct reference to a Boston Globe story that ran over the weekend, describing the practice of Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods casinos placing liens on homes of residents who have fallen into debt with both those Connecticut casinos.

Coakley said “a robust set of consumer protection regulations before these establishments begin operations” should be adopted by the commission.

Taunton area residents have a direct connection to the issue, having previously voted in favor of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe establishing a gambling casino and resort site on land in East Taunton’s Liberty & Union Industrial Park.

The last hurdle before the tribe and its Malaysian backers can begin building their elaborate project, within the commission’s Region C in southeastern Massachusetts, hinges on federal approval by the Bureau of Indian Affairs to place the Taunton land, already under sales option, into trust as an Indian reservation.

Taunton Mayor Thomas Hoye Jr.’s administration has enthusiastically backed the project in anticipation of new jobs and millions of dollars in local revenue.

On Tuesday, Hoye said he had not had an opportunity to review Coakley’s letter, which also noted that “the odds are stacked against (casino gamblers) being able to earn back the value of the loan.”

But Hoye said he supports the spirit of Coakley’s recommendations.

“It’s my hope that no gambling entity is allowed to place liens on people’s homes,” Hoye said.

“That’s why,” he continued, “it is so important that diligent credit checks be conducted. Whether it’s a bank or a credit card, people should not be allowed to borrow money they can’t afford to pay back.”

East Taunton resident Michelle Littlefield has been among a group of Taunton residents who, from the start, have opposed the idea of a tribal casino being built in Taunton.

Littlefield said the Mashpee Wampanoag, because it is a federally recognized Indian tribe, is exempt from following the same rules that will apply to commercial casino ventures, including liens against gamblers who have over-extended their casino credit.

“It has no bearing on the tribal project,” she said.

Littlefield said Coakley “is a day late and a dollar short” when it comes to addressing the issue of liens and gambling debt.

“You would expect our attorney general to be in front of these types of issues instead of being behind the eight ball,” said Littlefield, who accuses Coakley of issuing the letter to further her standing in a bid to become the next governor.

Calls seeking comment both from Coakley’s office and that of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission were not returned.

Paula Gates of Regan Communications Group, which represents the Mashpee Wamponoag, said tribal Chairman Cedric Cromwell would not comment on the issue of casinos placing liens against home owners unable to repay an outstanding gambling debt.